Record for 1999
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_ Z' ren s a i i a sc oo s u i les aunc e RECORD 0 c t o b el 1999 II Advantages of smaller conferences The church at work in Bougainville Ministers meet • for Spirit conference • oin me on death row edit o r i a 1 SWEET TASTE OF FORGIVENESS -Mary Karr tells of an uncle Closer to home, what if, as par- The king freely forgives him his who remained married, but ents, your son or daughter rejects the debt. ....... didn't speak to his wife for Christian philosophy you've tried to But when the servant shows a 40 years. The silence began after a instil? Can you forgive them? mean-spirited attitude to someone fight over how much money she'd And what about that woman who owes him but little, the king is spent on sugar. who's spreading scandalous rumours furious. "Shouldn't you have mercy on Then one day he took a saw and about your private life? How will you your fellow servant, just as I had cut their house exactly in half. He respond? mercy on you?" (NLT), rages the king. nailed up planks to cover where the Forgiveness isn't easy. But forgive Consider the "immoral" (NLT) house had once joined and moved we must. woman who washed Jesus' feet with one half behind a few scraggly pine expensive perfume and her tears. Her trees on their property. Forgiveness as good psychology gift was a love response to forgive- The two lived out the rest of their Yancey tells of a Jewish rabbi who ness. Jesus said to Simon (the host days in two half houses. (This story came to the United States after the who was critical of what the woman is told in Philip Yancey's What's So second world war. The rabbi said had done), "I tell you, her sins—and Amazing About Grace?) he'd had to forgive Hitler before he they are many—have been forgiven, It doesn't come much more stupid arrived because he didn't want to so she has shown me much love. But than that: two lives wasted over a carry Hitler inside him as he came a person who is forgiven little shows few cents. Well, actually, no—not a into a new country. only little love" (Luke 7: 47, NIT). few cents, but pride and the lack of From the human level forgiveness Do we really understand how forgiveness. is simply good psychology. Even if much we've been forgiven? It's only Several years ago I attended an we weren't Christian, even if we as we understand this that we can, Adventist church where the congre- didn't take seriously Jesus' com- out of love, freely forgive. That we gation had done all but get out their mand to forgive, we must. Unless can forgive as Jesus did. saw. In fact, those involved probably we forgive those who've wronged Listen: "Father, forgive them." would have been much happier if us, our family or our nation, they Forgive them? The ones who had they had. (Their situation is quite dif- take control of a part of our lives. condemned Him? The ones who • ferent now.) Our acts of forgiveness release us drove those nails through His hands Why is it so hard to forgive? to live a life less crippled. and feet? The ones who, even as He Can you forgive the church mem- breathed His last, continued to taunt ber who punched holes in your chest Forgiveness from forgiveness Him? Yes! with his finger as he or she made For the Christian, there's a warning What an example! We, too, must their point? (What was the issue? in the Lord's Prayer that we should be forgive—even our enemies. And Theology? Church politics? Worship?) in the business of forgiveness. But note this: Jesus doesn't wait for In the heat of the moment, things got there's so much more. The source of those around the cross to apologise out of hand, but when the heat is forgiveness for the Christian comes or to make restitution. He gone, what then? Smouldering con- from the forgiveness we've already makes the first move. tempt? experienced. Forgiveness is freely Remember that embarrassing wor- The parable of the unmerciful ser- offered. ship service when the teens led out? vant—or is it more the story of the That's the challenge What were they thinking? Anyone in merciful king?—tells of the servant for all followers of their right mind would know what who owes the king an incredible Jesus. they did was totally unacceptable. amount of money (see Matthew What now? Are you looking for 18:23-35). He has no chance of someone to blame? repaying it, and he begs for mercy. Bruce Manners Next week Official Paper Manuscripts Should be sent to The Editor, EecoRD, South Pacific Division Signs Publishing Company, Warburton, Victoria 3799. ACN 000 003 930 Manuscripts or computer disks will only be returned if SEVENITI-DAY ADVENnST accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Is it possible to Editor Bruce Manners CHURCH Phone: (03) 5966 9111 Senior assistant editor Lee Dunstan Fax: (03) 5966 9019 make our Editorial assistant Brenton Stacey Email: record@a 1 .com.au Editorial secretary Meryl McDonald-Gough Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Subscriptions South Pacific Division, $A40.00 churches hospitals $NZ73.00. All other regions, $A70.00. Air mail rates on application. Order from Signs Publishing Company, for the needy? Vol 104 No 39 Warburton, Victoria 3799, Australia. Printed weekly by Cover photo: PhotoDisc Signs Publishing Company. • ()etnher 1 9 9 9 adventist life • ONE STEP AWAY by James J o r dan was minding my own business "You don't when a man with a heavy hand understand— Ipoked me in the back of the I'm an ex- shoulder. In a gruff, raspy voice he con," he said, "Hey! I wanna talk to you." explained I turned to face a rough, unshaven as humility biker who looked as though he had- and despair n't seen the inside of a shower for a literally week. The intense look on his face over- relayed a sense of urgency that more whelmed . than set my nerves on edge. His his face. eyes were bloodshot; there was beer "Well, on his breath. it's not I was prepared for the worst. Of like you're all the people I've met and talked the first ex- with out on the road, there has only con I've been one scenario in which an indi- ever met," I vidual didn't like me "flaunting" that assured him. Christian banner in front of his face. "That's I ride with the Christian not all. I Motorcyclists Association and have a was in for patch on the back of my vest to sig- murder," he nify my loyalties. I thought I was continued. about to experience another nega- He went on to confess • five encounter. that if he wasn't drunk or high "They call me Luckie. How you on dope, when he tried to sleep he doin'?" I said as I held out my hand. still saw the face of the man whose are going to pray. Now!" "Not so good," he mumbled. life he took. I then began to realise We held each other as I prayed "What's up?" I asked, realising that the burden of guilt Tom was trying for forgiveness, for strength, for my assumptions were totally wrong, to carry—alone. guidance, for power to overcome, as usual. By this point I was fervent with and for relief from guilt. I have no "I need God in my life," he con- my prayers. I needed the guidance idea if Tom knew that prayer was fessed. of the Holy Spirit and I knew it. for me as much as it was for him. As He seemed dispirited and didn't Please give me something to say, I talked to Jesus, Tom began to hold seem to have normal colour in his Lord, I prayed inside my head. on tighter, trying with all his might face. There was a purple tint to his "Let me ask you something," I to grasp the peace he knew could cheeks, however, signifying years of said. "Who do you think is telling fill the void in his heart. alcohol abuse. Tom (not his real you that you need God in your life? As my prayer concluded, both our name) had surprised me with his It's certainly not the devil. That's faces were bathed with tears. Tom's nonaggressive behaviour. Now, God talking to you. And if He's talk- face, however, looked radically dif- • nothing short of "shocked" would ing to you, it's proof that you ferent. There was actually colour in describe the thoughts in my head. haven't gone too far." his skin—not to mention a peaceful Noting my hesitation to respond, "I still haven't told you every- look in his eyes. he continued to express his fear that thing," he admitted. His gaze drifted Praying with Tom reminded me of he had gone too far from God and downward as he began to pour his the truth: no matter how far we run that his situation was hopeless. In very heart onto the floor, where he from God, His love is always just my mind I began to praise God. I've obviously thought it belonged. one step away.